Glorified Book Club

Elders,

In 1877, Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave a wonderful talk titled "Come, Know the Lord Jesus." 
 Come, Know the Lord Jesus

In this beautiful talk, he discussed how everyone in the many faiths has their own interpretation of the Savior and gives examples of those interpretations. Now, back in 1977, the church was small, barely breaking a couple of million, and most of those saints lived in Utah. But today, we are so much more. 

Having a form of godliness when you deny God of the very godliness He wishes to exhibit in our lives, and not seeing God who He is, leads to people wanting God in their lives but never seeing Him.

Elders, we live in a world that is full of inspiration and revelation. For me, they are two different things. One builds on things past that can be proven that happened. The second is things that happened that cannot be proven but are true. The Bible and the Book of Mormon can be proven in parts but some things cannot. Revelation through the priesthood allows us to feel the sweetness of the messages that were meant to open our understanding through the Holy Ghost. 

For thousands of years, wonderful people wanted to understand the Lord. They sought to know the Lord from the forgeries of scriptures that were discovered versus "discovered". This led to groups of various natures attempting to know the difference for political and religious purposes. Churches were formed over these scriptures and would break off to form smaller and less unified congregations. Without you, the revelation of the Holy Ghost or the priesthood of God, Satan was able to wrestle the truth from hearts and become sheep to people who had no intention of leading people to the Savior. They had become glorified book clubs with fancy buildings and fabulous speeches but no spirit, no soul.

Brothers, please be patient with the lost sheep. They are starving for the bread of life and thirst for the water ever springing. It is said you can lead a horse to water but you cannot force it to drink. The same can be said for those struggling to find Christ. Be vigilant and patient. Your investigators, your new friends will recognize revelation, they will recognize the Holy Ghost. They will repent and seek covenants. 

All this said, people will realize that they need to go beyond a book club with ideas about the Lord through scripture and get to know the Lord personally through prayer and study. You have the words of the latter-day prophets and can open the eyes to the blind and ears of the deaf. Patience and being tenacious will lead you to those that are seeking the Savior. Brothren, when we pull people away from going to a book club and into a hospital of learning and healing, the saints and investigators will see the Savior more and more in their lives. I hope you see that through your messy mission. All the twists and turns are for your benefit and learning. Know that I pray for you. You guys are awesome.

Brother Bingham 

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